A MARGAM-based education centre teaching children survival techniques was thrown a lifeline by steel giant Corus.

The ‘survival zone’ at Margam Park Education Centre, which shows primary school pupils how to build shelters out of wood and leaves, became unsafe.

Now the shelter has been rebuilt in a joint exercise between Corus’s engineering team and Margam construction company, Andrew Scott.

As part of its Community Assist Programme, Corus provided metal frames and scaffolding poles which act as tee-pee posts for the shelters.

The survival zone hosts day-long role-play exercises where pupils imagine they are aliens and have to build themselves shelters.

Head of the education centre, Rick Green, said: “This activity is especially popular with primary schools because it targets lots of areas of the national curriculum.

“The children enjoy the activity and a lot gain good communication and team-building skills.”

Mr Green was grateful to Corus for stepping in when the survival zone became unsafe.

“Having Corus come in and put up the frameworks, allowing us to use lighter timber, has made the activities safer and more enjoyable for everyone,” he said.

Keith Farron, spokesman for Corus’s Community Assist Programme in South Wales, said: “The survival zone is very popular with schools so, when we received a call for assistance to provide some fabricated metal frames and help re-site the zone, we were delighted to assist.

“My thanks goes to our central engineering services for the fabrications and Andrew Scott for the civil work.

“But, really, I think they enjoyed working on this one as it got them out into the fresh air.”